Home Again received over $2.2 million from The Health Foundation to end adult chronic homelessness in Worcester using the “housing first” approach.
- Home Again documented the efficacy of the “Housing First” approach, including savings in healthcare costs that exceeded the cost of this intervention. Massachusetts then transitioned all of its housing supports from sheltering to housing first.
- In January 2011, the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness recognized Worcester as the first city of its size to effectively end chronic adult homelessness.
- Since 2011, funding for case management/community supports has been provided by all Medicaid behavioral health providers.
- Massachusetts received a federal planning grant in 2011 to address serving “dual eligibles” with Medicaid and Medicare funds for vulnerable populations. Services began in 2013 and under the federal CMS section 1115 waiver that was approved for Massachusetts in 2016, these services will continue through June 2022.
- Funding for occupancy costs through HUD and state funding, combined with Social Security income has resulted in several million dollars to pay the rent for these individuals who have been housed.